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Cen X-3 & Clocks in the Sky

Introduction: Light Curves, Power Spectra, & Periodicities
Activities: Conclusion

Education Activities To Accompany Chandra Data Analysis Software
Cen X-3 & Clocks in the Sky

The luminosity of the pulsar

We can now determine the luminosity of the pulsar by using the inverse square law along with the known flux of and the distance to the pulsar.

You may want to remind yourself how to determine the flux of a source from the Chandra observations.

From other observations in the optical light of this object, we have determined that Cen X-3's distance from the Earth is about 10 kpc or about 3 x 1022 cm. Using this value, and the inverse square law, can you now verify what we stated in the introduction, namely, that Cen X-3 emits about 10,000 times the energy /sec of the Sun?
Click Here for the Solution
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Last updated: 03/21/08

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